Steadyrest for grinding machines



April 27, 1937.

0 m Q N 5 M m l 1 E 7 7% l 5 8 U 7). 5 L H. 9 A! 7 H 7 n m H W H G m 5 H5 7 a w ALBERT G.BELDEN WITNESS 8% Patented Apr. 27, 1937 TATES PATE'! OFFICE STEADYREST FOR GRINDING MACHINES Application December 5, 1935, Serial No. 53,017

Claims.

This invention relates to grinding machines, and more particularly to a steadyrest for supporting and steadying the work piece during the grinding operation.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a simple, thoroughly practical steadyrest construction. Another object is to provide a steadyrest, simple and rugged in construction, which is simple in operation and adjustment. Another object is to provide a steadyrest without sacrifice of compactness of construction or dependability and simplicity of operation and action. Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

This invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, as will be exemplified in the structure to be hereinafter described, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawing, in which is shown one of the various possible embodiments of the mechanical features of this invention,

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary sectional view through a cylindrical grinding machine, showing the steadyrest in end elevation, having parts broken away and shown in section to more clearly show the construction;

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken approximately on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary cross sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken approximately on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view through a grinding machine, showing a modified steadyrest in end elevation, partly in section to more clearly show the operation thereof.

A grinding machine has been illustrated in the drawing comprising a base If! having a longitudinally movable work table thereon. The work table II is provided with a head and footstock (not shown) to rotatably support a work piece l2. A grinding wheel 53 is rotatably supported on a transversely movable wheel slide (not shown) which is arranged to move transversely relative to the base l8 to feed the grinding wheel into the work piece to grind the same to a predetermined size. For details of construction as to the headstock, footstock and wheel slide, reference may be had to the prior U. S. patent to Norton No. 762,838 dated June 14, 1904.

A steadyrest has been illustrated comprising a frame !5 which as illustrated is shown removably fixed to the base ID. If desired, the steadyrest frame may be so shaped and arranged that the under surface of the frame fits and mates with the upper dovetailed surface It of the table II. The frame l5 supports a transversely movable slide H which is supported within a rectangularly shaped aperture l8 within the frame l5. The upper portion of the slide I7 serves as a support for a horizontally movable member which is arranged to fit and mate with a slideway 26 formed in the upper part of the slide IT. The outer end of the member 20 is provided with a work steadying shoe 2| which is arranged to engage and steady the work piece l2 at a point substantially diametrically opposed to the line of contact between the wheel l3 and the work piece l2. The rear end of the slide member 20 is connected to the head 22 of a screw 23. The screw 23 engages or meshes with a nut 24 carried by the slide H. An adjusting knob 25 is threaded onto the end of the screw 23 and is arranged when rotated to turn the screw relative to the nut 24 so as to adjust the slide 2!) either toward or from the work piece l2.

In order to properly support and steady certain types of work, it is essential to provide a steadyrest of the two-bearing shoe type in which the work is not only steadied at a point diametrically opposite the line of contact between the wheel and work but also at a point below to take up the rotary thrust of the grinding wheel. The slide I1 is provided with a forwardly extending projection 28 which carries a stud 29 which pivotally supports a bell crank lever 30. The upper arm of the bell crank lever 30 is provided with a work steadying shoe 3| which is arranged to engage the work piece at a point below the work axis and on the side of the work adjacent to the line of contact between the wheel and work piece. The lower end of the bell crank lever 30 is provided with a stud 32 which is connected with a horizontally movable slide member 33 which mates and slides within a slideway 21 in the lower part of the slide 17. The slide 33 is operatively connected to the head 34 of an adjusting screw 35. The adjusting screw 35 meshes with a nut 36 carried by the slide H. The screw 35 also carries an adjusting knob 37 which is screw threaded onto the screw 35 and is arranged so that it may be adjusted relative thereto. By manipulation of the adjusting knobs 25 and 31, the steadyrest shoes 2! and 3| may be maintained in the desired supporting contact with the work piece l2 as the grinding operation proceeds.

In the grinding of crankshafts and other similar objects, it is necessary to remove the steadyrest shoes a considerable distance from engagement with the work piece in order that the work table and crankshaft may be traversed longitudinally to position successive pins into operative relation with the grinding wheel. As shown in the drawing, the slide H is provided with a notch 40 in its lower surface which is arranged to be engaged by a spring pressed locating plunger ll which is normally held in an upward position by means of a spring 42. The recess or notch 48 in the slide I1 is located so that the shoes 2| and 3| may be moved into an operating position by moving the slide li forward until the plunger 41 engages the aperture iii and the shoes 2| and 3| may then be moved into operative supporting engagement with the work piece i2 by manipulation of the adjusting knobs 25 and 3?. A handle 45 is provided on the frame H to facilitate moving the slide ll toward or from the work into or away from an operating position.

To facilitate rapid removal of the slide II to remove the shoes 2| and 3| to an inoperative position, it is desirable to provide a quick release for the lower shoe 3| in order that it may be rapidly dropped to a position so that it is below the lower surface of the work piece Hi. In the preferred form as illustrated in the drawing, the nut 36 is formed as an enlarged member the outer surface 66 of which is formed to correspond with the shape of the aperture 6| within a plate 62 mounted on the front of the slide IT. The outer surface 60 of the nut is slightly smaller in size than the aperture 6| so that when the nut 36 is turned at right angles to the position shown in Fig. 2, the nut may slide out through the aperture 6| when the knob 31 is withdrawn to rapidly remove the shoe 3| to a lower or inoperative position. A stop 63 is held in place on the plate, 62 by means of a screw 64 and serves to hold the nut 36 against rotation. After a grinding oper ation has been completed, rotation of the knob 31 in a counterclockwise direction serves to turn the nut 36 so that its periphery 60 rotates a quarter turn to align itself with the aperture so that an endwise movement of the nut 36 toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 1, serves to rapidly withdraw the shoe 3| from engagement with the work. The lever 55 may then be raised to withdraw the plunger M and thereby release the tension of the spring 5| which serves to rapidly move the slide toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 1, to move the rest to an inoperative position so as to permit traversing movement of the table i.

To facilitate a rapid movement of the slide H to an inoperative position after a grinding op eration has been completed, a spring-pressed plunger 5!} is slidably mounted within the frame l5. The plunger 50 is arranged to hold the slide ll in an operating position against the compression of a spring 5|. The plunger 50 bears against a downwardly extending projection 52 of the slide II. In order that the compression of the spring 5| may be readily released after a grinding operation, a manually operable lever 55 is pivotally mounted on a stud 56 on the frame I5. The inner end of the lever 55 is formed as a yoked member 51 which straddles and engages a groove 58 in the enlarged head 59 of the plunger M. When a grinding operation is completed, the operator turns the adjusting knobs 25 and 31 to remove the shoes slightly from the surface of the work piece and then raises the lever 55 which serves to move the plunger 4| downwardly out of engagement with the locating aperture it) in mounted on a stud 9| on the frame 10.

the slide When the plunger 4| is disengaged, the released compression of the spring 5| moves the slide ll rapidly toward the left, as viewed in Fig. i, into an inoperative position so that the shoes 2| and 3| are suiilciently removed from the work piece to permit a longitudinal traversing movement of the work piece I2 and table II.

In certain grinding operations, a single shoe steadyrest is sufficient to steady and support the work piece during the grinding operation. As a modified construction of a single shoe, this invention as applicable to a single shoe rest has been illustrated in Fig. 4. A steadyrest frame iii is provided with a horizontally adjustable slide H which mates with ways i2 within the frame H3. The slide H in turn supports an adjustably mounted member '53 which carries at its forward end a work steadying shoe Hi. The rear end of the member 13 is provided with a T-shaped slot which serves to engage a head it of an adjusting screw H. The adjusting screw Ti is threaded to mate with a nut '58 which is carried by the slide H. The outer end of the screw i1 is provided with an adjusting knob i9 which is screw threaded onto the screw "5'! and clamped in adjusted position thereon. Rotation of the knob 19 turns the screw 11 relative to the nut i8 and transmits a transverse movement to the slide member 13 to adjust the position of the shoe M toward or from the work piece [2. The slide II is held in an operative position by means of a spring pressed plunger 8|] which engages an aperture 8| in the slide H and is held in engagement therewith by means of a spring 82.

' In order that the slide H may be rapidly withdrawn to an inoperative position after a grinding operation, a spring pressed plunger 85 is slidably mounted within the frame 16 and is arranged to bear against a downwardly extending projection 86 of the slide H. A compressed spring 81 within an aperture as in the frame 10 serves to exert a pressure tending to move the slide ll toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 4, to withdraw the slide 1| and the shoe M to an inoperative position. A lever Sil is pivotally The lever Si] is provided with an enlarged hole 92 which surrounds a rod 93 projecting downwardly from the plunger 8%. A collar 94 is fixed on the lower end of the rod 93 and has its upper surface bearing against the under surface of the lever 98. After a work piece has been ground to a predetermined size, the lever 95 is pressed downwardly which serves to release the compression of the spring 8? which serves to rapidly move the slide H toward the left, as Viewed in Fig. 4, to withdraw the steadyrest shoe 14 to an inoperative position.

To return the steadyrest shoe into operative engagement with the next work piece to be ground, the knob 79 is pushed toward the right, as viewed in Fig. 4, until the spring pressed plunger 8|) engages the aperture 8| which serves to locate the slide 7| in an operating position. The steadyrest shoe M is then maintained in an operative steadying engagement with the work piece l2 by manipulation of the adjusting knob 9.

The operation of the improved steadyrest is readily apparent from the foregoing disclosure. Assuming the two-bearing steadyrest (Figs. 1 to 3) to be in an inoperative position, that is, with the shoes 2| and 3| removed from the workpiece being ground, the slide I1 is moved forward against the tension of the spring 5| into an operating position by means of the manually operable handle until the locating plunger 4i moves into the recess or notch ii! in the slide 57. The knob 31 is then moved endwise toward the right, as viewed in Fig. l, to move the shoe 3i toward the surface of the work piece. The knob Si is rotated to turn the nut 36 so that the enlarged portion of the nut turns at right angles to its initial position to lock the nut in back of the plate 62. The turning of the nut 35 continues until the nut engages the stop 63 which serves to hold the nut against further rotation. The grinding operation may then proceed and the shoes 2i and 3i may be manually adjusted by rotation of the knobs 25 and 31 respectively to maintain the shoes in supporting and steadying engagement with the work piece 52 as the grinding operation proceeds.

After the work piece has been ground to a predetermined size, the knob 37 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction to turn the nut 35 so that its outer surface 63 is aligned with the aperture BI and then moves the knob 37 endwise toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 1, to rapidly withdraw the shoe 31 from contact with the lower surface of the work piece E2. The lever is then raised to withdraw the plunger ii so as to release the compression of the spring 5! which serves to rapidly move the slide E'a' carrying both the shoes 2! and 3! toward the left, as view-ed in Fig. 1, to an inoperative position.

Similarly, the single shoe steadyrest (Fig. 4) shown in the modification illustrated in Fig. i is first moved into operative engagement by pushing the knob 79 in an endwise direction toward the right, as viewed in Fig. 2, against the tension of the spring 87, until the plunger 80 engages the notch or aperture in the slide H to locate the slide ii in an operating position. The shoe M may then be adjusted manually into supporting and steadying contact with the work piece l2 by a rotary adjustment of the knob '59. By adjusting the knob 7:] during the grinding operation, as the work piece it is reduced in size, the steadyrest shoe M may be maintained in the desired steadying and supporting engagement with the work piece l2. When the work piece 52 has been ground to a predetermined size, the lever 96 is depressed or moved downwardly to withdraw the plunger so from the notch or locating aperture 3! in the slide H which serves to release the compression of the spring 81. The released compression of the spring 81 serves to rapidly move the slide H carrying the shoe 14 toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 4, to move the same to an inoperative position so as to permit traversing of the table 58 to present the next portion of the Work piece into operative relation with the grinding wheel.

It will thus be seen that there has been provided by this invention apparatus in which the various objects hereinabove set forth together with many thoroughly practical advantages are successfully achieved. As many possible embodiments may be made of the above invention and as many changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter hereinbefore set forth, or shown in the accompanying drawing, is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A steadyrest for grinding machines comprising a frame, a member movably mounted on said frame, a work steadying shoe adjustably mounted on said member, means to adjust the shoe relative to the member, yieldable means arranged to move said member to an inoperative position, and a locating device to locate and hold said member in a fixed operative position on said frame.

2. A steadyrest for grinding machines comprising a frame, a member movably mounted on said frame, a work steadying shoe adjustably mounted on said member, means to adjust said shoe relative to said member, yieldable means arranged to move said member to an inoperative position, a locating device to locate and hold said member in a predetermined fixed operative posi tion on said frame, and means to release said device and rapidly move said member and shoe to an inoperative position.

3. A steadyrest for grinding machines comprising a frame, a movable slide on said frame, a work steadying shoe adjustably supported on said slide, means to adjust the shoe relative to the slide, yieldable means arranged to move the slide to an inoperative position, a spring pressed detent on said frame arranged to engage an aperture on said slide and to locate and hold the same in a predetermined operative position so that the shoe steadies and supports a work piece, and means to release said detent so that the spring will withdraw the slide and shoe to an inoperative position.

i. A steadyrest for grinding machines coml prising a frame, a movable slide on said frame, a work steadying shoe adjustably carried by said slide, manually operable means to adjust said shoe relative to the slide to maintain the shoe in supporting engagement with the work during grinding, a spring to hold said slide in an inoperative position with the shoe removed from engagement with the work, a spring pressed detent to locate and hold said slide in an operative position, and manually operable means to release said detent so as to release said yieldable means to rapidly withdraw the slide and shoe to an inoperative position.

5. A steadyrest for grinding machines comprising a frame fixed to the grinding machine base, a horizontally movable slide on said frame, an adjustable member movably mounted on said slide, a work steadying shoe carried by said member, a manually operable nut and screw adjusting device to adjust the position of said member and shoe relative to the slide, a locating plunger arranged to locate and hold said slide in a predetermined operative position, a yieldable means to move the slide to an inoperative position, and a manually operable lever arranged to withdraw said plunger to release the spring so as to withdraw the slide and shoe rapidly to an inoperative position.

6. A steadyrest for grinding machines comprising a frame, a. horizontally movable slide on said frame, an adjustable member movably mounted on said slide, a work steadying shoe carried by said member, a manually operable nut and screw adjusting device to adjust the position of said member and shoe relative to the slide, a locating pin arranged to locate and hold said slide in a predetermined operative position, a yieldable means to move said slide to an inoperative position, and manually operable lever arranged to withdraw said pin to release said spring so as to withdraw said slide and shoe to an inoperative position.

7. A steadyrest for grinding machines comprising a frame, a movable slide on said frame, a horizontally adjustable member movable on said slide, a work steadying shoe carried by said member and arranged to engage the work at a point opposite the grinding wheel, a manually operable nut and screw adjusting device to adjust the position of said member and shoe relative to the slide, a second horizontally movable member, a pivotally mounted shoe carrier on said slide, a shoe on said carrier arranged to engage the lower surface of the work piece, connections between said carrier and the second horizontally movable member, a second manually operable nut and screw adjusting device to adjust the position of said carrier and shoe, a locating pin arranged to locate and hold said slide in a predetermined operative position, yieldable means to move said slide to an inoperative position, and a manually operable device arranged to withdraw said pin to release the spring so as to withdraw the slide and shoes rapidly to an inoperative position.

8. A steadyrest for grinding machines comprising a. frame, a movable slide on said frame, a horizontally adjustable member movable on said slide, a work steadying shoe carried by said member and arranged to engage the work at a point opposite the grinding wheel, a manually operable nut and screw adjusting device to adjust the position of said member and shoe relative to the slide, a second horizontally movable member, a pivotally mounted shoe carrier on said slide, a shoe on said carrier arranged to engage the lower surface of the work piece, connections between said carrier and the second horizontally movable member, a second manually operable nut and screw adjusting device to adjust the position of said carrier and shoe, means to disengage the second nut to rapidly lower the second shoe below the surface of the work piece, a locating pin arranged to locate and hold said slide in a predetermined operative position, yieldable means to move said slide to an inoperative position, and a manually operable device arranged to withdraw said pin to release the spring so as to withdraw the slide and shoes rapidly to an inoperative position.

9. A steadyrest for grinding machines comprising a frame, a movable slide on said frame, a

horizontally adjustable member movable on said slide, a work steadying shoe carried by said member and arranged to engage the work at a point opposite the grinding wheel, a manually operable nut and screw adjusting deviceto adjust the position of said member and shoe relative to this slide, a second horizontally movable member, a pivotally mounted shoe carrier on said slide, a shoe on said carrier arranged to engage the lower surface of the work piece, connections between said carrier and the second horizontally movable member, a second manually operable nut and screw adjusting device to adjust the position of said carrier and shoe, manual means to move said slide to and from an operating position, a locating pin arranged to locate and hold said slide in a predetermined operative position, and a manually operable device arranged to withdraw said pin to facilitate rapid withdrawal of the slide and shoes to an inoperative position.

10. A steadyrest for grinding machines comprising a frame, a movable slide on said frame, a horizontally adjustable member movable on said slide, a work steadying shoe carried by said member and arranged to engage the work at a point opposite the grinding wheel, a manually operable nut and screw adjusting device to adjust the position of said member and shoe relative to the slide, a second horizontally movable member, a pivotally mounted shoe carried on said slide and arranged to engage the lower surface of the work piece, connections between said second shoe and the second horizontally movable member, a secand manually operable nut and screw adjusting device to adjust the position of said shoe, means to disengage the second nut rapidly to swing the second shoe below the surface of the work piece, a manually operable means to move said slide to and from an operating position, a locating pin arranged to locate and hold said slide in a predetermined position, and a manually operable device arranged to withdraw said pin to facilitate rapid withdrawal of the slide and shoes to an inoperative position.

ALBEET G. BELDEN. 

